The world today faces the challenge of increasing prevalence of both types of diabetes (I and II). World Health Organization statistics indicates that 350 million adults around the world are diagnosed with the disease, and experts predict this number will increase to 380 million by 2025.
Jordan is a country with a population of 9.7 million (2017). Diabetes is a serious issue in Jordan. The Head of the National Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology and Genetics, Professor Kamel Ajlouni, said “diabetes is the most common disease in Jordan , and the cost of non-communicable diseases including diabetes on the state is reached a stagaring one billion dinars annually (~$1.4 Billion), according to the latest figures of the Ministry of Health”. Adding that about three million people will be diagnosed with diabetes by 2050. Another source wrote that Diabetes is responsible for 75% of annual hospital admissions in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The figures are concerning for Jordanian healthcare providers and decision makers. 3 percent of pre-school children in Jordan are diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus. It is worth noting that there are 70,000 cases recoded annually for ages under 15 globally. Studies conducted by the Jordanian Ministry of Health in collaboration with the international bodies and organizations have shown a significant increase in diabetes cases, registered cases jumped from 7% in 1996 to 16% in 2007.